Reps want proceeds of TSA made public to enhance transparency

Vows to probe EU ban on Nigeria’s beans exportation
HOUSE of Representatives has commended the federal government for implementing the Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy as a strategic device to fight corruption, noting that there was need to ascertain the proceeds of the TSA to enhance transparency and good governance. This was the outcome of a motion titled ‘Need to Ascertain the Proceeds of the Treasury Single Account to Enhance Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance’ sponsored by Hon Adamu Kamale. In his lead debate, Kamale explained that the TSA was a financial policy being implemented by the federal government to consolidate all inflows from ministries, departments and agencies into one single account maintained by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, with the aim of ensuring accountability of government revenues. The lawmaker recalled that in 2012, the federal government ran a pilot scheme for a single account using 217 ministries, departments and agencies. Kamale observed that the introduction of the TSA had helped to improve the process of collection of revenues and would engender prompt settlement of matured government commitments. He, however, expressed worry that despite the laudable commitment of the current administration to combat corrupt practices, eliminate waste in public finance and ensure adequate fund flow, some establishments were still left out of the TSA platform. The lawmaker further observed that while there was no clear operational detail as regards the management of the funds accumulated in the TSA, the need for its urgent utilisation to discharge governmental commitments for development and good governance might be delayed to assess the anticipated impact of the policy. In its resolution, the House set up an ad hoc committee to liaise with the CBN and any other agency of government that has official role in the implementation of the TSA to ascertain the actual amount realised so far. We’ll probe EU ban on beans exportation – Reps Meanwhile, House of Representatives yesterday said it would investigate the extension of ban by the European Union, EU, on the exportation of Nigeria’s dried beans into European countries. The House therefore mandated its Committees on Agriculture and Commerce and Industry to probe the alleged ban. The resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo (APGA-Anambra) on the floor of the House. Leading the debate, Nwankwo explained that in June 2015, the EU banned the exportation of dried beans from Nigeria on the ground that the produce contained high level of pesticide considered hazardous to human health. Nwankwo expressed worry that the ban was to last till June 30, 2016, to allow Nigerian authorities time to provide an export control plan and assurance that the beans exported complied with EU Minimal Risk Level for Hazardous Substances. The lawmaker expressed concern that few days to the expiration of the ban, EU had extended it for three years. He added that several relevant agencies of government, including Standard Organisation of Nigeria, NAFDAC and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, claimed to be collaborating with one another to resolve the issue before close of the deadline. The lawmaker further noted that the alleged reason for the extension was that Nigeria did not do enough to lift the ban during the period of suspension. He lamented the effect of the extended ban on dried beans export on the country’s economy, especially as the current administration was focused on diversifying the economy through export of agricultural products. In its resolution, the House mandated the committees to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.